Yellow Brick Road Street Outreach

Thursday, July 02, 2015

12 years ago I entered a building on the corner of 9th and Oak in PDX. There was a sign hanging that read "The Streets Are Not The End Of The Road." I had no idea at the time how true that was for me. For me, the streets were just the beginning.

When I was 18 I felt lost, alone, and confused. I grew up in a small town where everyone knew every one's business, had just graduated high school, and my best friend had moved out of state for her recruitment into the Navy. Due to some adolescent trauma I spent most of my high school years evading thinking about the future by spending all my time with my BFF...being not at home. I didn't want to go to college, but I signed up because it's what everyone else was doing and I didn't want to embarrass my family by admitting I had never thought about it before, so when my mom pressured me I consented to admit to a local community college.

My mother had recognized my inability to comprehend the gravity of change that was happening and encouraged me to sign up for a Bridges class. A class meant to help students who couldn't hack it in college otherwise, teaching them to process change and prepare for the future. I was embarrassed at the thought of it until I left my placement tests crying because I placed in all high school level classes, and I didn't even want to be there. I wanted my old life of escapism, but my best friend (mode of escapism) moved away and my mom wouldn't give up on me. She forced me to get a job, enroll in school, and take the class for people who struggled with change, convincing me with the "6 free credits" slogan.

There were only 6 of us in the class. We spent our time taking personality tests and job surveys to find where we might best fit. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. The only thing I knew was that I was miserable, wanted to disappear, didn't know how to vocalize my pain, and didn’t trust anyone or myself or my future. I was certain I would spend my life in a hidden misery so I spent most of my class hours imagining myself disappearing and secretly hoping it would happen. Then my pointless life and internal suffering would end, without me having to find the courage to ask for help, something I found horribly embarrassing. Then one day we were given an assignment to complete a group project, a service project, both of which sounded horrible.

There was this annoying, loud mouthed (not really, I just wanted to do nothing and he was spoiling my plans) student in the class who insisted we help the homeless in some way. His church had done it before and he thought it would be easy. I'm assuming the other 4 students felt like I did, didn't care, just wanted to get it over with, because no one agreed or disagreed, and the student started making plans. I admitted within myself I found the idea intriguing. I had never personally met a homeless person before, but as a kid I had always wondered why no one ever acknowledged their existence. I saw people walk right by them all the time downtown, clearly able to see they were in need, but pretended like they couldn't see them or their problems didn't exist or something. Much how I felt others were pretending to not see me, and I them.

It was only one night. My class went to what was The Greenhouse Day in Café and Shelter (now extinct) and did some sort of group or game that I don't even remember. All I remember is feeling like I finally fit in someplace. Like that elf guy in Rudolf when he finds the island of misfit toys. The youth didn't know how I felt. They didn't know that their willingness to share how afraid they felt every night and how invisible and alone they felt, even in a crowd, penetrated my soul and made me see I wasn't alone.

The ONLY thing I did that night was ask one kid how his day was, and ignorantly and bluntly told him I thought he was lying when he told me he was "good." I knew full well how to tell that lie, and recognized the attempt to believe it. But then something strange happened that had never happened before. He said I was right, and thanked me for my sincerity and for paying attention when I didn't have to. And then we had normal conversation until it was time for me to go.

I left wishing I was brave enough to runway. Not from my family, but from the hurt I was comfortable in. The idea of not knowing loneliness scared me more than being miserable because it was a pain I knew. I wanted to run away. But I couldn't. I wanted to admit I needed someone to ask me how I was doing and genuinely want to know. I wanted to let my guard down, just for a second.

I asked if I could come back and volunteer.

All I did was serve food like hummus, which at the time I swore I'd never eat because it looked like orphanage food. (I don't understand my prejudice there...) I served food and played card games with the youth that went there. And every day I watched youth come to the drop-in center, surrender their weapons, and enter, admitting they were hungry for food and love from anyone willing to give it.

I thought to myself: "If they can do it, so can I." And then I did. Because they did.

That was just the beginning.

Everyone thinks I helped them, but really they helped me. They still do.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Yellow Brick Road provides free training events to the community every 4 months. These events are FREE and available to anyone over 18 who may wish to learn more about street outreach, volunteer opportunities with Janus Youth Programs and other topics related to youth homelessness, poverty, exploitation and social justice. This is a great opportunity to meet the current outreach volunteers, staff and program supervisor. It is also a great opportunity to learn more about homeless youth resources and street outreach in Washington and Oregon. Applications are always on hand for anyone who wishes to join the team, but there is absolutely no obligation.

Our next training will take place in downtown Portland THIS SUNDAY May 17, 2015 from 2pm until 5pm. This month we welcome you to join us as we prepare for the busy season of summer travelers and what that means for outreach sfaety. We will also be introducing Sergeant Quackenbush of the Portland Police Department foot patrol, who will be discussing their reinvigorated attention to downtown sidewalks, livability issues and engagement strategies for working comapssionately with homeless folks and summer travelers. Light lunch and refreshments will be provided. We hope you will join us. Seating is limited, please RSVP at the address below.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

We had a surprise visit from the Complete Health Dentistry of Portland team last week! They gathered an array of cold weather clothing and oral hygiene supplies for our shelters and street outreach program. Thank you for supporting Janus Youth's mission to improve the quality of life for young people experiencing homelessness! We think this is just the beginning of a great partnership.

Monday, January 05, 2015

Our next Yellow Brick Road training will take place in downtown Portland on Sunday January 18, 2015 from 2pm until 5pm. It's time for Multnomah County's 2015 STREET COUNT and this month we welcome you to join us to learn about the count and how YOU can get involved in this important survey. Light lunch and coffee will be provided. Seating is limited, so please RSVP at the e-mail contact below. We hope you will join us!

Yellow Brick Road provides free training events to the community on a quarterly basis. These events are FREE and available to anyone over 18 who may wish to learn more about street outreach, volunteer opportunities with Janus Youth Programs and other topics related to youth homelessness, poverty, exploitation and social justice. This is a great opportunity to meet the current outreach volunteers, staff and program supervisor and learn more about homeless youth resources and street outreach. Applications are always on hand for anyone who wishes to join the team, but there is absolutely no obligation.

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Severe Weather Notice:The National Weather Service forecasts overnight lows between 13 degrees and 21 degrees with wind chill through Thursday, January 1, 2015.

Anyone seeking shelter should contact 211info, reached by dialing 2-1-1. 211info will be available to identify shelter and warming center resources 24/7. Additionally, shelter information is available at www.211info.org. The following warming center facilities are available:

Union Gospel Mission3 NW Third Avenue, PortlandThis is a walk-in facility.Dates:Evenings of Wednesday, December 31st and Thursday, January 1stHours: 9:30pm - 6amServes: Families, single adults, and youth

Family Winter Shelter16141 E Burnside Street, Portland (near 162nd Avenue)This is a walk-in facility. It is not necessary to call beforehand. No one will be turned away.Dates:Seven nights a week throughout winter seasonHours: 7pm - 7amServes: Families with children under 18 and women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy

Monday, December 29, 2014

Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 - Severe Weather Notice: The National Weather Service forecasts low temperatures between 7 degrees and 29 degrees with wind chill for the evenings of Monday December 29, Tuesday December 30, Wednesday December 31, 2014.

Anyone seeking shelter should contact 211info, reached by dialing 2-1-1. 211info will be available to identify shelter and warming center resources 24/7. Additionally, shelter information is available at www.211info.org. In addition to existing year-round facilities, the following warming center facilities are available:

Family Winter Shelter16141 E Burnside Street, Portland (near 162nd Avenue)This is a walk-in facility. It is not necessary to call beforehand. No one will be turned away.Dates:Seven nights a week throughout winter seasonHours: 7pm - 7amServes: Families with children under 18 and women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy